VIJAYAWADA,
APRIL 25.
The Robertsonpet police on Sunday raided a hut at Gilakaladin village in Bandar mandal and seized 66 cases of liquor bottles stored at the place.

A watchman, O. Venkatswami, who was taken into custody, told the police that the seized bottles were stored by followers of the former BC Welfare Minister, Nadikudi Narasimha Rao, according to the Bandar division Deputy Superintendent of Police, J. Kanaka Rao. The land housing the hut reportedly belonged to a relative of the former minister. According to the DSP, the ex-minister disowned the seized bottles. Mr. Narasimha Rao told the police that the bottles were apparently placed there by his rivals to discredit him and seek political mileage out of it. "We are now in the process of making further enquiries about the seizure,'' the DSP said.

The district police also conducted a raid under the Robertsonpet police station limits and seized 24 cases of liquor bottles from a wine shop dealer who was allegedly selling liquor in the open despite the ban. As per the model code of conduct, sale of liquor has been banned in the district 48 hours before the commencement of the polling. He was arrested. In Mudinepally mandal, the Guidvada police intercepted a taxi at the check-post and seized 26 cases of liquor bottles. The taxi driver, R. Durga Rao, was taken into custody, according to the Gudivada, DSP, Sivarama Raju. However, the person who hired the taxi, is said to have given the slip to the police.